Vol. II Chapter VI: The Shadows of Yashar

Two days later, after night had long since fallen over Rivora, everyone gathered in Lucius and Melissa’s room at the inn.

Marcthain and Liviana lugged in crate after crate of gear: vials, ropes, scrolls, rolled-up cloths, and plain clothes spilled from the chests.

With one sweeping motion, Marcthain cleared the table, unrolled a large parchment map, and smoothed it out.

“This,” he said, tapping a spot on the map with his finger, “is your target: Sahzarun.”

Everyone leaned in closer.

“The journey will take about three days. You’ll set out at sunrise. First, you’ll cross the foothills, then climb to the southwestern mountain pass of Malikth. You’ll have to gain some altitude there before descending east toward the Gate of Zahramor. That’s where you’ll cross into Yashar.”

His finger shifted a bit further right.

“Here, you’ll leave the main road and follow markers I’ve placed. They’ll guide you to a remote cave in the marshlands. One of my trusted contacts will be waiting there. He’ll give you a cart and everything you’ll need for your cover.”

“Cover?” Lucius asked quietly.

Marcthain let out a deep breath.

“Lucius, you and Tagunel will pose as wealthy merchants delivering tribute and goods to the Nobles of Yashar to prove your loyalty. Your arrival has already been announced, so you should have no trouble gaining entry. Once inside the camp, you’ll collect as much evidence as you can. Documents, names, anything confirming that they are planning an attack.”

He tapped a point north of Sahzarun, marking a small oasis.

“This will be your rendezvous point. If you’re not there by dawn, the pickup will leave without you. From that point on… you’re on your own.”

A heavy silence settled over the room.

Then Melissa crossed her arms over her chest, her voice icy.

“And just what are we supposed to offer them as tribute?”

Marcthain looked up, his expression still serious, though his voice softened slightly, almost regretful.

“The most coveted goods in all of Yashar.”

He glanced first at Liviana, then at Melissa.

“Selvarin slaves.”

Melissa stared at him in shock. Then she whipped her head around and jumped to her feet, fury blazing in her eyes.

“You’re planning to give us away as slaves?! Are you insane?” Her voice nearly cracked. “I’m not some piece of merchandise!”

Lucius felt his stomach churn. His gaze darted between Marcthain and Melissa.

“No way… you can’t be serious.” His voice wavered. “There has to be another way.”

Marcthain held their gaze, unmoving.

Liviana placed a hand on Melissa’s arm. Her voice was soft yet strong.

“It’s only a role. Our shackles won’t even be locked. Once we’re inside, we’ll slip them off and sneak away. No one’s going to drag us off for real.”

Melissa exhaled sharply. Her eyes shifted between Liviana and Lucius. After a tense moment, she gave a tiny nod, though her shoulders still trembled.

“Fine… But if any of those bastards lays a finger on me, I’ll tear his throat out.”

Marcthain allowed himself the hint of a weary smile.

“That’s exactly what I’d expect from you.”

Tagunel gave a nervous little chuckle.

“I’m sure we’d all appreciate it… but let’s keep it as a last resort, yeah?”

Lucius rubbed his forehead.

“I still don’t know if this is a good idea…”

Tagunel clapped him on the shoulder.

“Sometimes, Lucius, there are no good ideas. Only less bad ones.”

Marcthain cleared his throat and pointed again at the map.

“That was the broad plan. Now let’s go through it all in detail.”

And so they sat together deep into the night, dissecting every step, every word, every gesture, until they were sure that no one would forget a single detail.

When Lucius and Melissa were alone in their room again, a heavy silence hung in the air.

Lucius stood by the window, staring out into the night, the lights of Rivora sparkled brightly below. 

They barely spoke, and even Melissa, usually quick with a teasing comment, was uncharacteristically quiet. 

Both knew there was no turning back now.

The next morning, the sun broke through the clouds over Rivora as the small group gathered for departure and surprisingly, the mood was lighter than expected.

Marcthain accompanied them as far as the edge of town.

Liviana leaned in close, whispered something in his ear, and kissed him on the cheek.

For a brief moment, the stoic commander completely lost his composure.

“When we come back, there’s no going back for you either, Mar’. Just so you know!” she called, laughing, as the group was already heading off.

They passed through the edge of the forest where Lucius and Melissa had stood only days earlier, looking down into the valley. 

Eventually, they reached the clearing where they’d fled through the portal to escape Dionysus’ wrath.

A faint crackling still lingered in the air, and Lucius imagined he could smell honey and sweet wine drifting on the breeze.

“Weird,” murmured Tagunel, brushing his hand over the ground. 

A tangle of vines grew there, which he examined with keen interest.

“I’ve never seen this plant before. Especially not growing in a place like this… fascinating.”

Melissa and Lucius exchanged knowing looks.

“How do you know so much about plants, anyway?” Melissa asked later, as the forest faded behind them and the foothills rose ahead.

“I used to be a gardener in the palace of a regional governor. In the Empire of Animshin, far to the east.”

Tagunel gazed skyward for a moment, a faraway look in his eyes as though remembering another life.

“Then Marcthain took an interest in me… after I wasn’t welcome there anymore.”

“He took an interest in you?” Melissa prodded.

Tagunel gave a crooked grin.

“I knew a lot about plants. Which also meant I knew a lot about essences. That made me… useful. Looking back, maybe I should’ve just kept watering flowers.”

The others burst into laughter.

As the sun began to set, they made camp on a rocky slope high in the mountains. 

From there, they could look back over Tiberun’s green hills, and out across the barren plains of Yashar.

Down there lay their goal and a land shrouded in foreboding shadows.

Lucius shivered at the thought of what awaited them and even pressed close to Melissa’s warm fur, the cold refused to leave him. 

Only the stars above them glittered clearer than he had ever seen before.

By the next day, they finally reached the border of Yashar. 

A tall wooden post marked the line, with a sign nailed to it bearing a curved sword entwined with a snake, and the words beneath:

“Those who come without fear shall leave without a head.”

Melissa snorted softly.

“Well, that’s a warm welcome,” she said drily.

The landscape grew flatter, barer. Only grasses and ferns remained, with scarcely a tree in sight. The air was hot, dry, suffocating.

Clouds of insects buzzed around them. On the distant plains, two-legged animals grazed, with tiny arms and long trunk-like snouts.

Eventually, the terrain changed again. The dry steppe gave way to marshy wetlands. Liviana scanned the roadside, searching for signs.

“It should be around here somewhere…” she murmured.

At last, she spotted a piece of brownish cloth tied to a half-rotted tree stump, almost hidden from view. A single word was scrawled across it: Ardor.

“That’s it!” she cried in relief. “This is where we turn off!”

Leaving the road behind, they waded into the swampy ground. Huge mosquitoes harassed them relentlessly. Tagunel raised his hand, ready to cast a fire spell, but Liviana stopped him.

“We can’t risk drawing attention. Just hold on a little longer!”

As the sun disappeared behind a haze of mist, they finally reached the cave. Its entrance gaped open in the hillside, barely visible from afar.

“About damn time!” Melissa groaned. “My hooves are not made for places like this.”

Inside, Tagunel conjured a small light. But the cave was empty.

“Huh. Empty,” Melissa remarked dryly.

Liviana’s expression tightened.

“That… can’t be right. Mar would never send us here for nothing.”

But before they could ponder it further, the sound of hurried footsteps and rattling metal echoed from outside.

They heard someone shouting orders.

And suddenly, the cave was surrounded.